Rig Rundown: Eric Johnson [2017]

PG’s John Bohlinger hangs with Eric Johnson at Nashville’s City Winery to see how the master of tone and technique handles an acoustic tour.

Eric Johnson has been a longtime Martin fan, using them in the studio and on tour in the past, but for this acoustic tour, Johnson took a page out of Tommy Emmanuel’s book and went with two Matons. Johnson’s No. 1 is a Maton C.S Classic with a European spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, and the proprietary Maton pickup system.

His backup is a much like the Maton C.S Classic, but with a single cutaway.

Johnson uses this Takamine EC-132C that he purchased in the ’80s for a mere $180. Saving some coin on the guitar, he replaced the original electronics with a L.R. Baggs LB1 system.

Johnson runs his guitars into two AER Compact XL amps. He utilizes the AER’s lush reverb and sends the signal to front of house while simultaneously using the amps as stage monitors.

For the nylon-string guitar, Johnson runs directly into an old Fishman Pocket Blender preamp.

Johnson runs his steel-string guitars directly into a L.R. Baggs Venue DI, which is set basically flat.

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Eric Johnson's Gear

John Bohlinger is a Nashville-based multi-instrumentalist best known for leading the band on NBC's Nashville Star, serving as music director for the CMT Awards and specials on PBS and GAC, and of course for his appearances in PG Rig Rundown, Review Demo, Axes & Artifacts, and What Bohlinger Plays videos.

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